Thursday, February 5, 2009

Just Bee-cause...

Welcome SITS-tahs! I'm so excited you're here! Don't you just love Heather and Tiffany?! I've met some of the. nicest. people. thanks to them. I can't say enough about how much I appreciate all their hard work and what a blessing SITS has been to me.

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So you may be wondering, "what's with the bees?" When I was in college, my dad gave me a book by Mamie McCullough called "I Can, You Can Too". Looking back on it now, it seems corny, but at the time it changed my life. Ms. McCullough is an inspirational speaker that was affiliated with ZigZiglar, the motivation mogul. The book is rife with clever quips about "stinkin' thinkin'" and your "hopeometer". Chapter 1 opens with the story of the bumblebee:

"Scientists have proven that it is aerodynamically impossible for the bumblebee to fly. Its body is too heavy, and its wings are too light. You've probably read about this phenomenon before. However, the bumblebee doesn't read--it just flies!"

I was fascinated by this. Now of course, there are spoilsports out there who refute this illustration saying that it is, obviously, possible for bumblebees to fly. Therefore, why would anyone say they couldn't? Especially a trained scientist in the field of aerodynamics. (These are probably the same people who delight in informing small children that it is logistically impossible for Santa to visit every household in the world on Christmas Eve.) Talk about your "stinkin' thinkin'"--Sheesh! They are missing the point, which is that the bumblebee doesn't focus on the negatives and is therefore able to accomplish things that might otherwise seem impossible.

I like this line of thinking. So that is why I used the bumblebee legend in my classroom to motivate students. That is why I named my jewelry business QuirkyBee Designs. And that is why my blog is entitled "To Bee or Not To Bee". Because in each of those areas, one must focus on the positive if they are to take flight and be successful--whether its a kindergarten student learning to read; someone with no training or artistic background creating jewelry; or a somewhat shy, very guarded person posting rambling literary rants for all the cyber-world to read.

I also like honeybees. Did you know that after a female honeybee stings something, she dies? Part of her is left behind. She is passive, unless provoked and then she is willing to sacrifice her life. That reminds me of Jesus. He gave His life to redeem us from our sin, left part of himself with us (the Holy Spirit) and replaced the sting of death with eternal life for those who believe.

And neither the honeybee, nor Jesus can be refuted by the party-pooper skeptics.

"As the truth of Christ is in me, this boasting of mine will not be silenced..."

One thing about the stinger that people should know- if you get stung don't squeeze the stinger (by trying to pinch it)! Scrape the stinger off! And if you don't stinger it wasn't a honeybee that stung you- more likely a wasp.

stopping by from SITS to say hi... honey bees have lots of lessons to teach us... esp about being busy!!!! come check out my superawesome giveaway of 13 Essential Things to make it through a long cold winter... there's only a few days left to enter!!!!

Congrats! Thanks for sharing about the bees! It will be a great lesson for me to pass on to my 11 year old, who although will probably not be over 5'7", thinks he can be a pro basketball player. JUST BE POSITIVE!!

Love the story about the bumblebee! I was a consultant in Mary Kay awhile ago and that story was one of the main motivational stories that Mary Kay herself loved. As you said, it's just so positive and uplifting.

I TOO AM A TEACHER, AND I HAD THAT LITTLE DITTY ABOUT THE BEE POSTED ON A BULLETIN BOARD. I LOVE IT! WHEN KIDS LEARNED TO DO SOMETHING NEW, THEY WOULD SAY, "HEY LOOK! I LEARNED HOW TO FLY!" I LOVE YOUR BLOG NAME AND YOUR BLOG! COMING AT YA FROM SITS.

Hey girl! What a great description of your blog. My little dog is named Bee...Honey Bee is her official name. :) I can't wait to go read the rest of your posts. I saw something about Walmart....I worked there for three years and oh the stories I could tell. I can't wait to go read!

Mamie McCollough was a speaker one year at our teacher inservice. She was a fabulous speaker! I had a bumblebee pin that I got from her that day, but for the life of me, I don't know where it is. I'm not a big pin-wearer, so I think I must've left it on a jacket that has probably been long gone! I wish I still had it. I would send it to you.